Looking to lock up a top-four seed in the Hockey East standings and the right to host a league quarterfinal game, the Northeastern women's ice hockey team gets back to work this weekend against Providence in a home-and-home set, beginning Saturday night at Schneider Arena.
NU will then return home on Sunday for Senior Day at Matthews Arena, where the Huskies will honor their four seniors:
Siena Falino Casie Fields Rachel Llanes and
Casey Pickett, prior to the game.
NU enters the weekend riding a season-best five-game winning streak, which tied for the third longest active streak in the nation.
Sophomore forward
Kendall Coyne is in the midst of an 11-game point streak (18 goals, nine assists), the longest of her career. The Palos Heights, Ill. native has recorded multi-point games in nine of those 11 contests, including six multi-goal games and two hat tricks. If Coyne gets two points this season, she will be the first player since Vicky Sunohara to register at least 60 points in a season.
Coyne, the 2013 Beanpot MVP, recently became the 22nd player in program history to record 100 career points, and only the third to do so in less than two seasons. Llanes, meanwhile, is two points away from reaching the 100-point plateau.
Playoff picture
Currently sitting three and four points ahead of New Hampshire and Providence, respectively, the Huskies will secure home ice for the Hockey East quarterfinals with a win or tie in either of their two games this weekend. NU can also lock up the No. 3 seed with a win on Friday, or a tie coupled with a New Hampshire loss or tie.
Depending on results from this weekend's games, Northeastern can finish as high as third or as low as fifth, and would face either New Hampshire, Providence or Vermont next weekend in the quarterfinals.
Boston College and Boston University are neck and neck at the top of the league standings, both fighting for the No. 1 seed and the league's regular season title. If both teams win each of their games this weekend, the regular season crown will be determined via a coin flip for the first time in league history, since the squads are tied in every tiebreaker category.
A peek at the PairWise
Northeastern's five-game winning streak, kicked off by its second straight Beanpot championship, have put the Huskies back in the hunt for a berth into the NCAA tournament.
NU is currently ninth in the latest PairWise rankings from USCHO.com, which attempts to mimic the method used by the NCAA Selection Committee to determine participants for the NCAA Division I women's ice hockey tournament.
Northeastern is also 10th in this week's RPI, and is 4-9-0 this season against teams under consideration.
The matchup with Providence
Providence comes into this weekend's games in the same situation as the Huskies in terms of placement in the Hockey East standings. A sweep of NU would automatically give the Friars a top-four seed in the standings, but PC can also secure home ice in a couple other scenarios depending on the results of New Hampshire's games against Maine.
The Friars lead the all-time series with the Huskies 54-43-11, with NU leading the season series 1-0-0. The last time the teams met, they combined for 15 goals in an 8-7 Husky triumph, the most goals scored between two teams in Hockey East history.
Providence is led by senior forward Nicole Anderson, who has 17 goals and 14 assists this season. She has three goals in her last three games, and has been aided by the play of freshman Molly Illikainen (11 goals, 17 assists), who is third in the league in rookie scoring in league games (7-11-18). Illikainen created havoc for the Huskies on Jan. 20 at Matthews Arena, posting two goals and adding two assists, her highest single-game scoring output of the season.
Freshman Sarah Bryant has played in 25 of Providence's 32 games this season, posting a 3.07 goals against average along with a .885 save percentage. She appeared in relief against Northeastern earlier this season in place of junior Nina Riley (seven goals against, 18 saves), making five stops.
Breaking down the streak
Northeastern is riding a season-long five-game winning streak, which is tied for the third longest active streak in the nation, dating back to the start of the Beanpot on Feb. 5. The last time the Huskies went on a five-game winning streak in February was during the 1998-99 season.
NU is averaging 4.8 goals per game during the last five contests, more than a goal above its regular season average, while giving up only 1.6, which is more than a goal below the average in all games this season.
The Huskies, who typically average a little more than eight penalty minutes per game this season, has logged 5.5 penalty minutes per game during the streak, and is operating at 91% on the penalty kill.
Additionally, NU was won 56% of its faceoffs during the last five games, compared to a 50% mark during the entire regular season.
Kendall Coyne (eight goals, four assists) and
Casey Pickett (three goals, seven assists) have combined for 2 points during NU's winning streak, while
Chloe Desjardins has held down the fort in the Husky goal, posting a 1.60 goals against average and .948 save percentage.
Thank you seniors
Prior to Sunday's game against the Friars, the Huskies will honor its four seniors (
Siena Falino,
Casie Fields,
Rachel Llanes, and
Casey Pickett) for their dedication to the program and the Northeastern community.
Falino has appeared in 128 career games for the Huskies, tallying nine goals and 18 assists. During her sophomore season in 2009-10, she finished the year fourth on the team with 19 points on six goals and 13 assists, and is also a three-time Hockey East All-Academic Team member.
Fields has played in 122 games, including her 100th career contest this season. She has recorded three goals and five assists during her time at Northeastern, and was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team following her sophomore season in 2010-11.
Llanes is two points away from becoming the 23rd player in program history to record 100 career points. Her 60 assists are tied for 17th on the NU record list for career helpers, and she is in the midst of her most productive season to date, tallying 11 goals and 23 assists in 31 games. She also concludes her career as Northeastern's active leader in Beanpot points with three goals and seven assists, recording at least one point in six of her eight Beanpot games.
Pickett has had one of the most successful careers in program history. She enters today's game tied for 15th on the NU record list with 115 points. Her 55 career goals are also tied for 15th on the Northeastern record list, but no goal was bigger than her game-winning tally in overtime on February 7, 2012, lifting the Huskies to their first Beanpot championship since 1998.
Earlier this season, she became the first Husky since 2002 to score four goals in a game, leading Northeastern to its highest single-game goal total since 2001 in a 9-1 victory against Connecticut.
Last time out
Northeastern extended its winning streak to five games with a 4-0 victory at Connecticut (3-26-3, 1-17-1) on Tuesday night at Freitas Ice Forum. The Huskies received goals from four different scorers, while
Chloe Desjardins made 26 saves for her fourth shutout of the season.
The Huskies outshot Connecticut 46-26 for the game, and was 0-of-2 on the power play. NU also won 38-of-61 draws in the game, led by
Rachel Llanes' 14-of-21 showing. Elaine Chuli made 42 saves for Connecticut in the game.
20/20
Standing at 19-10-2 this season, a win in one of the final two regular season games would give the Huskies a 20-win season for the second straight year. It would mark the first time since 1998-99 and 1999-00 that Northeastern won 20 games in consecutive seasons.
Down to the wire
Only five points separate Boston College's Alex Carpenter (24-21-45) and
Kendall Coyne (21-19-40) for the Hockey East scoring title. The two candidates for the league's Most Valuable Player award have already broken the conference's record for single-season scoring in league play, which was previously held by New Hampshire's Sadie Wright Ward (39 points) during the 2005-06 season.
Lending a helping hand
Kendall Coyne,
Rachel Llanes and
Casey Pickett lead the team with 24, 23 and 20 assists this season, respectively. It marks the first time since the 2000-01 season that Northeastern has had three players register at least 20 assists in a season. Brooke White (34), Kim Greene (28) and Brooke Whitney (24) accomplished the feat that season.
Maggie DiMasi, who has logged 17 assists this season, is next on the list. If she adds three helpers before the end of the season, it would give NU four players with at least 20 assists for only the fourth time in program history, and the time since the 1997-98 season.
Road warriors
Northeastern is 10-4-0 on the road this season, the second most road wins for any Hockey East teams, and the fifth most in the nation. NU trails only Minnesota (16), Boston College (12), Mercyhurst (11) and Clarkson (11) for the most wins away from home this season.
Coyne notches No. 100
Kendall Coyne became the third player in program history to record 100 career points. In 60 career games at NU, the Palos Heights, Ill. native has produced 60 goals and 43 assists, and is only the third player in team history to net 100 points in less than two seasons. She is also the first Husky since Brooke Whitney (2001-02) to post 50 points in a season.
Coyne also extended her point streak to 11 games (18 goals, nine assists) on Tuesday at Connecticut, a new career long. She is 14th on the NU record list for career goals, while her 34 goals this season are second on the single-season list.
A five-time WHEA Player of the Week honoree in 2012-13, Coyne is seventh in the nation in points per game (2.00), second in goals per game (1.17), tied for second in power play goals (nine) and tied for third in game-winning goals (seven).
Her nine power play goals are also three shy of tying the program record for PPG in a season (Hillary Witt, 12; 1999-00). She is also the first player since 2000 to record at least 45 points in back-to-back seasons (Witt; 1998-99, 1999-00).
She also recorded career-highs in assists (five) and points (six) on Nov. 3 against Connecticut. In her 60 career games, Northeastern is 35-12-3 when she records at least one point and 32-2-2 when she records a positive +/- rating. Additionally, she has been held without a point in just 10 of her 60 career games.
Closing in on 100
Rachel Llanes is nearing the 100-point plateau. Llanes has struck a balance in 134 career games with the Huskies, tallying 38 goals and 60 assists. She also cracked the top-20 on the NU record list for career assists, sitting in a tie for 17th place with Jaime Totten (60).
She would become the 23rd player in program history to reach 100 points, and would join linemates
Casey Pickett and
Kendall Coyne, who accomplished the feat earlier this season.
It just comes natural
Kendall Coyne's three hat tricks this season have helped the sophomore winger become one of the nation's leaders in goals per game (1.17).
Before netting three tallies against BU in the Beanpot semifinal, she helped the Huskies erase a three-goal, second period deficit on Jan. 27 at Vermont by recording her second natural hat trick of the season. The other came on Oct. 12 against Union when she scored three third period goals.
The Palos Heights, Ill. native has four career hat tricks in two seasons on Huntington Ave. The program record for career hat tricks is nine (Hillary Witt and Vicky Sunohara).
Huskies headline WHEA honors
Following a 3-0-0 week, highlighted by its second straight Beanpot championship, the Northeastern women's ice hockey team collected three weekly Hockey East awards on Monday. NU was named the conference's team of the week for the second straight week,
Paige Savage earned Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week accolades and
Chloe Desjardins picked up WHEA Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Savage, who potted a goal and four assists last week, earned Rookie of the Week honors for the second time this season. The Johns Creek, Ga. native is sixth in the conference in freshman scoring with seven goals and 13 assists this season. She is currently riding a four-game point streak, the longest of her career.
Desjardins backstopped the Huskies to all three victories last week, making 82 saves on 89 shots to earn Defensive Player of the Week accolades for the second straight week, and fifth time this season.
She was named the 2013 Bertagna Award winner on Tuesday, which is awarded to the Beanpot's most outstanding goaltender.
Shouldering the burden
Kendall Coyne,
Rachel Llanes and
Casey Pickett have carried the torch this season for the Huskies, becoming one of the most dangerous lines in college hockey.
The trio has produced 43% of Northeastern's total scoring (129-of-303) and 53% of NU's total goals (62-of-118). Coyne leads the teams with 34 goals and 24 assists, while Pickett has 17 goals and 20 helpers.
Chloe back with a bang vs. BU
In the Beanpot semifinal against Boston University, sophomore goaltender
Chloe Desjardins made her first start in goal since Jan. 16.
The Saint Prosper, Beauce, Quebec native played the game of her career that night, posting a career-high 38 saves to help the Huskies reach the tournament title game for the 24th time in program history.
Desjardins, a five-time WHEA Defensive Player of the Week honoree, is 17-8-2 this season with a 2.65 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. She is also tied for sixth in the nation with four shutouts.
Packing a punch
NU's line of
Paige Savage,
Kelly Wallace and
Brittany Esposito have proved that they can complement Northeastern's top line of
Kendall Coyne,
Rachel Llanes and
Casey Pickett. In the last 10 games, Savage, Wallace and Esposito have combined for 15 goals and 20 assists, including six points (two goals, four assists), in the Beanpot title game, helping NU to an 8-2-0 record in that span.
On Jan. 27 at Vermont, Esposito tied a career-high in points and assists with three helpers, including Wallace's power play goal early in the third period. The trio also netted NU's first goal at Boston University on Saturday.
Wallace is having the best season of her career, having more than doubled her scoring output from last season (seven points), with 11 goals and 12 assists in 30 games this season.
Savage is among the league's top rookies with seven goals and 13 assists on the year, which ranks in a tie for fifth among Hockey East freshmen.
One for the record books
Jan. 20 against Providence was the highest scoring game by both teams in the 11-year history of WHEA. The previous high was 12 combined goals, which had occurred four times, most recently on Feb. 11, 2012 when Boston University defeated Vermont, 8-4.
It also marked only the second time in program history, and the first since Feb. 5, 1994, that the Huskies had allowed seven goals and still won the game. NU defeated Toronto in the Concordia Tournament, 8-7.
The win was the program's 550th all-time victory since the Huskies reached varsity status in 1980-81. It was also head coach
Dave Flint's 150th career victory. Flint entered the season 21st among active coaches in career wins and career winning percentage.
Too good after two
Northeastern has been unstoppable this season when leading after 40 minutes of play. The Huskies have led after two periods in 16 of their 31 games this season, going a perfect 16-0-0. Last season, NU was 18-1-1 when possessing the lead after 40 minutes of play.
25/25
Kendall Coyne's 18 goals in her last 11 games bring her to 34 this season. This marks the second straight season that she has scored at least 25 goals in a season. The last time Northeastern had a 25-goal scorer in back-to-back seasons was when Brooke Whitney scored 26 in 2000-01 and 32 in 2001-02.
Power play hitting its stride
Entering the game 0-of-19 on the man advantage dating back to Dec. 1 at New Hampshire, the Husky power play came alive on Jan. 16 at Boston University. NU tied a season-high with three tallies on the man advantage, going 3-of-8 on the night.
Overall, NU is fourth in the nation in power play percentage (29-of-118; 24.6%) and is one of nine schools in the country with at least 25 power play goals.
NU has received power play goals from 10 different players, led by
Kendall Coyne's nine. Coyne, who is three power play tallies away from tying the school record for PPG in a season, leads the league in power play goals and is tied for first in power play points (9-6-16), trailed closely by
Rachel Llanes in a tie for fourth (5-6-11).
Killing it on the PK
Since Jan. 24 at New Hampshire, the Huskies have held their opponents to just 13% on the power play (3-of-23). NU is ranked in a tie for 12th in the nation, and first in Hockey East, in penalty killing percentage this season (98-of-115; 85.2%). Northeastern has also potted four shorthanded goals this season, led by
Kendall Coyne's two.
Triple digits
With four goals in the Beanpot championship game on Feb. 12, the Huskies reached the 100 goal mark for the second straight year. The Huskies have scored at least 100 goals 22 times in program history. The last time they scored 100 goals in back-to-back seasons was in 1998-99 and 1999-00, when they potted 104.
Pickett climbing the charts
Senior captain
Casey Pickett had three assists against New Hampshire on Dec. 1 to become the 21st player in program history to eclipse the 100-point plateau. Pickett is the first player since Kim Greene in 2003 to accomplish the feat.
“She's been outstanding, and to reach 100 points is pretty amazing for any player,” said head coach
Dave Flint. “She works extremely hard at it and deserves it.”
Pickett, who has 55 goals and 60 assists in 134 career games, is tied for 15th on the school record list for career points, and is also tied for 13th on the NU record list for career goals.
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